BUILDING A PORTAL
Portal IS a concept by mark & eric erman
The experience begins in a dark and mysterious hallway out of a futuristic movie, with multi-angled walls resembling a centrifugal ride at the fair. A deep mirrored entry, inspired by Monte Alban in Oaxaca, offers a kaleidoscope view into the wooden womb environment. Inside, the curving wood ceiling and seating envelops and transports you to a different world of calm and intrigue that is seamless and without scale.
Inspired by complex geometries found in nature, the design includes angular elements that contrast with sweeping wood curves that vault overhead and down to the floor. Indirect lighting completes the scheme to give life to the wood, steel, stone and acrylic materials of the space while also complementing the patrons. An existing mirrored window in the space becomes an oculus and starting point for the wood ceiling that is reminiscent of a dirigible or zeppelin.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
2 miles of hand-milled poplar wood slats make up the curved ceiling and walls, which are held by a substructure of 17 hidden archways. Due to the complexity of the parametric design, the Erman brothers engaged a local custom aviation firm, Intech, to execute the vision.
Recycled blue jean insulation positioned behind the wood slats creates an intimate acoustic environment.
Hundreds of feet of indirect LED lighting can be dimmed to any color or mood.
Proterozoic era (1.5 billion year old) quartzite tables and bartop are metamorphosed sandstone, formed from intense heat and pressure. Through this stone, we see the depositional environments of a former world. On the bartop, flowy festoon cross-bedding can be seen from a fluvial (river) environment. On the cocktail tables, stylolites can be seen, which are the thin grey jagged lines, a geologic phenomenon where intense pressure causes minerals atop the depositional surface to dissolve and later precipitate.
The backbar is punctuated by “Espiritu Libre”, a stunning stained glass art commission by Ochoa Stained Glass and Saywells Design.
